If you've been around pretty much anything music related (except maybe country) in the past few weeks, you must have heard SOMETHING about the new "Metallica" release, "S & M." Does it rate all the attention and hype it's receiving? YOU BETCHA!!!

Catchy name for an album recorded from "Metallica's" concerts April 21-22, 1999 with the San Francisco Symphony. "S & M" gives it that "metal" touch, even if it DOES stand for Symphony, not kinky. Since the label swore up and down to me at the time of the concert that there would be no album or video released from this event, even I was fooled for a minute or two by the "S & M" title.

I was one of the people who actually attended "Metallica & The San Francisco Symphony" in April, so I'm uniquely qualified to review the album and video that were released on 11/22/99. I commented extensively on the concert when it appeared as the May, 1999 Feature of AMZ (see Back Issues - 5/99 - Feature), so this review is of the CD and VHS (and soon to be DVD) of the concert in question.

First of all, the recording, mixing and editing that went into this album is of superior quality. Any "Live" album has it's own little short comings in sound quality and crowd response. THIS "Live" album has NO short comings on sound or anything else. When I attended the concert, there were times when the Symphony kind of overwhelmed Metallica and vice versa. Not so on the album. This 2 CD set picks up every musical nuance from both the band and the Symphony and makes as close to a perfect package as I've ever heard. Even way better than a whole lot of studio recordings. NOTE: You REALLY want to listen to this with one hell of a set of speakers, or a fantastic pair of headphones, to hear it the way it should be heard.

Out of 21 songs, there isn't a bad, or even mediocre, one in the bunch, but some of the more outstanding numbers include the Symphonic intro made up of "The Ecstasy Of Gold" (Any "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly" fans out there? If so, you'll recognize this), which segues into "The Call Of The Ktulu" as Metallica joins in instrumentally, then in turn becomes "Master Of Puppets." These three intertwined introductory songs alone make the CD worth the price, and this is just the beginning.

Other songs especially enhanced by the Metallica/Symphony combo include "Fuel," "The Memory Remains," "Devil's Dance," "Bleeding Me," "For Whom The Bell Tolls" and "One." EXTRA special are "Outlaw Torn," "Enter Sandman" and "Battery," while the two new songs, "No Leaf Clover" and "-Human," are particularly awesome with their orchestral treatment.

Michael Kamen, Orchestrator and Conductor extraordinaire, who has worked the band/orchestra connection for such bands as "Deep Purple," "Aerosmith" and "U2," has come through in a HUGE way for this meeting of Symphony and Metal. The liner notes of the CD open with a "letter" from Michael Kamen regarding this event from the perspective of the Symphony and himself and is worth a read. Members of the Symphony bused to the venue for the concert were met by howling "Metallica" fans that scared them half to death. Used to being greeted by polite applause, this was a new and interesting experience for them. "Metallica" has also expressed their respect and appreciation for Maestro Michael Kamen and the San Francisco Symphony. Sounds almost like a mutual admiration society, but it's totally sincere. There are lots of live photos from the concert that fill the rest of the booklet.

Now, RUN to the nearest music outlet and get this album! No matter what kind of music you're into, you should enjoy this superb venture. While you're at the store, consider picking up the VHS of the concert as well. This may have been metal music fused with a symphony, but the lighting and stage perspective filmed at this concert are really great. Not even the video can compare totally to being there, but it comes damn close!! Oh, and spend the extra 4 bucks to get the video with the bonus VHS tape. The bonus is a "making of" video, and the interviews and practices are worth the price.